How to clean stainless steel without streaks.
Streaky stainless steel is almost always from wiping against the grain or using the wrong product. Work with the grain and finish with a light polish and it stays smudge-free.
Clean stainless steel appliances by wiping with a damp microfiber and a little dish soap, always following the direction of the grain, then drying with a clean cloth. Finish with a few drops of mineral or olive oil buffed in along the grain to repel fingerprints. Avoid abrasive pads, bleach and ammonia glass cleaners.
Find the grain
Stainless has a directional grain, like wood. Wiping across it leaves streaks; wiping along it does not. Look closely and you will see the fine lines.
- Identify whether the grain runs horizontal or vertical
- Always wipe in that same direction
- Use a soft microfiber, never an abrasive pad
Clean, then dry
For daily smudges, less is more.
- Wipe with a damp microfiber and a drop of dish soap along the grain
- For grease, warm water with a little dish soap is enough
- Dry immediately with a second clean microfiber to prevent water spots
Polish to repel fingerprints
A tiny amount of oil is the pro trick for a lasting, fingerprint-resistant shine.
- Put a few drops of mineral or olive oil on a cloth
- Buff in along the grain, then buff off the excess
- This leaves a thin layer that hides and resists prints